Life preserver



J. CATANZARO LIFE PRESERVER Filed Feb. 13 1925 2 beets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1923.

J. CATANZARO LIFE PRESERVER Filed Feb. 13. 1923 Q Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Get. 16, 1%23.

,eaaees JOHN GATANZARO, OE FRAMING-HAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE PRfiERVER.

Application filed February 13, 1923. Serial Ito. 618,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, JOHN CATANzARo, residin at Framingham, in the county of Midd esex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life Preservers, of which the following is a s ecification.

y invention relates to improvements in life-preservers in garment form depending on inflation for buoyancy.

The object of this invention is to provide a life-preserver of attractive design in the form of a vest, readily conforming to the lines of the body, which can be worn under the outer clothing either inflated or deflated without discomfort or interference with the free movement of any part of the body of the wearer;

Another object of the invention is to provide a life-preserver that can be adjusted speedily over the outer clothing in case of emergency, with two independent buoyant units, each of which is sufficient for the support of the body of the wearer in water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a life-preserver with adjustable fastenings both at the front and rear, permitting adjustment quickly to the contour of the body and provided with shoulder straps as a further means of adjustment in proper position on the bodyof the wearer. 7

Other ob'ects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification, reference beinghad to accompanyinghdrawings forming a part thereof,

inwhic Figure 1 is a planview of my life-preserver, laid flat, ready for application to the body of the wearer. s I

Figure 2'is a horizontal sectional view on the lie 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the inner tubes, with air valve and cap.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure -1.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 3 shows the inner rubber bladder composed of a series of vertical tubes with horizontal tube connecting the series of vertical tubes and protruding air valve attached for the urpose of providing means of inflation. he number of vertical air tubes will vary a from five 'to-ten, according to the size of garment, theminimum number being used adopted as an additional measure of safety in the event of mishap to either of the parts or to any part of one of the series of tubes.

Each of the bladders or series of pneumatic rubber tubes is encased in a canvas or stout cloth casing of excellent workmanship, which casing is securely stitched along the margins and with .rows of stitching be tween each of the tubes in the series. Additional stitching is also placed at the opening through which: the valve for inflation protrudes from the casing.

Each of the, parts or units of the lifepreserver is provided with a canvas or stout-cloth shoulder piece, stitched securely to the upper part of the casing, throu h which the arms are placed in adjusting t e life-preserver to the body. These shoulder straps are intended to rest upon the shoulders of the wearer to serve as a means of keeping the life-preserver in place andas a measure of precaution to prevent the lifepreserver from slipping down. on the body'.

The feature of adjustability by which device can be readily adjusted to persons ofdifferent sizes is accomplished through a medium of a combination of lacing and eye lets and straps and buckles. The method of connecting the two units of the life-preserver is acomplished by means of metal eyelets secured to the outer edge of the canvas or stout cloth casing, lacing being passed through the eyelets allowing adjustment b One of the units of the life-preserver is provided with two buckles with short straps loosening or tightening as may be desire stitched to the canvas or stout cloth casing and the other unit is provided with two straps about six to eight inches in length perforated for use in vconnection with the buckles on the opposite unit, thereby providing another method of adjusting the device to the lines of the body and providing for securely fastening the appliance in pos1- tion. If so desired, front adjustment may PIE also be obtained in the same manner as that arranged for back adjustment. If this arrangement is followed both sides of'the device will be provided with metal eyelets secured to the outer end of casing and the front adjustment accomplished by means of lacing.

The appliance can also be utilized as a swimming device that will not interfere with progress in the water but will efficiently support a person in the Water and permit rest at any time without difliculty.

What I claim is:

A}. combination in a life-preserve! and 15 swimming-device of two independent inflatable units each having a series of vertically parallel pneumatic rubber tubes with a horizontal tube extending the full length of the inflatable unit, said vertical finger tubes opening into a horizontal tube with an inflating valve connected with said horizontal tube, said inflatable units being encased in canvas coverings, having shoulder supports and provided with eyelets and lacin for back adjustment and straps and buckl es for front adjustment.

Signed at Framingham, Massachusetts, this 3rd day of.February, 1923.

JOHN CATANZARO. 

